Electric signaling apparatus



No. 750,270. y I PATENTED JAN. 26, 1904. W. B. DEGROW.

ELECTRIC SIGNALING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED $11M. :1, 1901.

N0 MODEL.

I l l I I l I I Hi I E I Q I I. I 11 A UNITED STATES- Patented January 26, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE. I

WILLIAM E. DEOROW, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO GAMEWELL FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC SIGNALING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 750,270, dated. January 26, 1904. Application filed September 27,1901. Serial No. 76,727. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern."

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. DEoRow,-of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Electric Signaling Apparatus, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to police-signal systems which comprise, essentially, a central station and a plurality of substations (usually boxes) of that type which transmit two classes of code-signalsviz., patrol and special signals. Such a system also includes means for telephonic communication between the various boxes and the central station and also answer-back signal mechanism to notify the oflicer at the box that his special signal has been received, and said answer-back signal mechanism is also arranged to be used to notify an oflicer to use the telephone, in such event it being set in operative condition at the central office and operated upon the reception of a patrol-signal. Such a system, however, furnishes no means of indicating whether or not the patrol-signals have been received, except incidentally, when the answer back signal mechanism has been set to notify an ofiicer to use the telephone, and, furthermore, such sys: tem furnishes no means of notifying the oflicer to use the telephone when a special signal is transmitted.

This invention has for its objectto provide such asystem with answer-back signaling mechanism adapted to be operated to notify the officer at the box that his patrol-signalas Well as his special signal has been received and also, to provide an answer-back signal mechanism of a different kind adapted to be operated to. notify the officer at the box to use the telephone, so that the officer will receive an answer-back signal for every signal transmitted by him and a signal of a different kind to notify him to use the telephone on transmitting either a special or patrolsignal.

In carrying out this invention a plurality of box-number circuit-operating devices and a central-station receiving apparatus are provided, and for the sake of illustrating this invention I have herein shown said box-number circuit-operating devices aseach arranged in a normally open connecting-wire between a pair of main circuit-wires, which latter in clude said receiving apparatus, yet so far as my invention goes said box-number circuitoperating devices and receiving apparatus may be connected many other suitable manner and in any circuit. An answer-back bell is included in the connecting-wire in each box,

which is adapted to be automatically operated by means provided at the signal-receiving station to indicate to the ofiicer at the box that his signal, whether patrol or special, has been received, yet the means for operating said answer-back bell will be under control of the attendant at the receiving-station, so that he can set the apparatus in condition to operate said answer back bell or not, as desired. Suitable telephonic instruments and a condenser are provided at the receiving-station and also at each box, and an electromagnetically-operated buzzer is provided at the receiving-station and means employed for connecting it in circuit with one of the coils of the induction-coil of the telephonic equipment at said station, so that whenever operated a rapid succession of impulses will be transmitted which will be received on the telephonic receiver at any box which may be connected with the main circuit-wires, and thus I adapted to receive them.

The buzzer consists, essentially,ofan electromagnet and a rapidly-vibrating arm or lever and is itself a device well knownin the art, yet herein it is employed as a signal-transmitter, and the means employed for connecting it in circuit with the induction-coil may I of closing the connecting-wire e not limit my invention to its use with an opencircuit system, as it is evident that the invention may be used with a closed-circuit system Without departing from its spirit and scope.

A represents the main battery at the signalreceiving station and from it lead two main circuit-wires a 6, yet this form of circuit is herein shown merely for the sake of illustrating the invention 0 represents a signal-receiving relay the coils of which are included in circuit with the battery A, and its armature c, which is normally retracted, operates a local circuit (Z, including a battery d, and also the startingmagnet 03 and pen-magnet d of a register ofany usual or suitable construction. These parts, as herein shown, constitute the signalreceiving apparatus, yet so far as my invention is concerned any other suitable form or construction of signal-receiving apparatus may be employed.

The signal-transmitter contained in the box and which is herein shown merely for the sake of illustrating this invention consists of a train (not shown) and one or more box-number circuit-operating devices, although one only is herein shown for the sake of clearness.

The box-number circuit-operating device is herein shown as a wheel 6., provided with projections adapted to engage the contact-pen e and close it against the contact-pen 0 to thereby close the circuit. The contact-pen e is connected by a wire 6 with one of the main circuitwiresas a, for instanceand the contact-pen c is connected by a wire 0 to a wire 6 which is connected to the other main cir,

cuit-wire, as b, so that said box number circuit-operating device is connected in multiple are between said main circuit-wires. The connecting-wire e e e is also normally open at other points than at the box-number circuitoperating device and is adapted to be closed,

at said other points by suitable switches provided for the purpose, and whenever it is closed by said switches or either one of them, as will be described, and the box-number circuit-operating device operated the signal will be transmitted, which will be received at the signal-receiving station.

Two switches are provided for the purpose 3 6 6 either I one of which will efiectually accomplish the result, but both are provided for reasons to be hereinafter described. One of said switches consists of a wheel f, operated by any suitable signaling-train (not shown) and a pair of contact-pens f" f adapted to be closed together by said wheel when said train is running,'so that during the entire operation of the train said connecting-wire will be closed by the switch at such point. The other switch consists of a pair of contact-pens. g g, adapted to be held open'by the door g of the box when the latter is closed, but to close together by a spring orotherwise whenever said door g is opened. Thus upon opening the door of the box to transmit a signal the switch 9 9 will be closed, and as soon as the signaling-train is operated in any usual manner the switch f f will also be closed, and if for any reason the box-door should be closed before the signaling-train has ceased operating and the switch g g thereby opened it will be seen that said connecting-wire will remain closed by the switch f f until the signal has been transmitted. Hence the importance of providing the switch f f The answer-back bell h is included in the wire 0 which is herein shown as a polarized bell of ordinary construction, and at the signal-receiving station a pole-changing device is provided for operating said polarized bell.

The pole-changing device, which serves as one of the answer-back signal-transmitting devices, is also of ordinary'construction, so far as this invention is concerned, and consists, essentially, of two pairs of contact-pens z' c" and a? i the pens of each pair being adapted to cooperate together, and an arm 2", pivoted at i bearing two contacts2 3,which are adapted to engage either one of the contact-pens or 2' and move it away from engagement with the contact-pens i or 7?; but, as before stated, this pole-changing device itself is well known in the art. The pivoted arm 2' is extended beyond the pivot i and bears the armature 2' of an electromagnet i which is included in a branch wire 2' of the local circuit d, so that whenever said branch wire is closed or connected with said local circuit the electromagnet 2' will be energized and the pole-changing device operated. A switch j is provided for connecting said branch wire i with the local circuit (Z, which may be operated manually whenever desired, and whenever said switch 1' is operated and the branch wire thus closed the electromagnet i will respond to the movement of the armature of the signal-receiving relay, and the signal which is received at the receiving-station will be automatically answered back to the box which is being operated, and it will be seen that if said switch jbe kept closed all signals received at said receivingstation will be automatically answered back on the polarbell to the box transmitting them. When the box-door is opened, the switch g y will be closed, and when the signaling-train is operated the switch f f will also be closed,

and the signal-circuit thus completed as fol-. lows: battery A, magnet 0, wire a, througlr contacts iii 77 of the ole-changin device,

wire a, wire 0 magnet it,box-number circuit? contacts a, wire 6,. to 6 then through switches f f and g 9, Wire 6 W i P Q b, pole changing. contacts 2' i througlrmagnetc to battery. The signal-receiving relay 0 is thus adapted to be operated and likewise the polarized hell it in the box. The connecting-wire at the box leading from p to p and including the telephonic receiver on and condensert 1s equipment. comprises, essentially, the, transmitter n receiver n ravit 1 switch-arm n for said receiver, and induction-coil 01?, one of the coils of which is included in the local-battery circuit nf, and the usual circuits for said telephonic equipment are adapted to be connected by theswitch 12, with the wires. n a, one of which leads to the main circuit-wire a and the other to the main circuit-wire b, so that said telephonic equipment is connected in multiple arc with said main circuit-wires. The switch a is adapted to beoperated manually w'henever'desired. At each box a corresponding telephonic equipment is provided comprising, essentially, a transmitter m, receiver m, gravity switch-armnrf, and induction-coil 011/ oneof the coils of which is included in the local-battery circuit mi and the circuit-wire including said telephonic equipment is connected at p to the wire e and at p to the wire 0 so that said telephonic equipment is connected to the connecting-wire e e e in parallel with the box-number signaltransmitter, and being thus connected it will be seen that the switch g y will control the circuit. YWhenever the box-door is open the telephonic equipment will be connected in circuit, so that the receiver m is responsive, although the telephonic transmitter at will not be operative until the gravity switch-arm m has closed the local circuit 127/; hence the necessity of the switch g 9. By arranging the circuit-wires of the telephonic equipment at the box in this manner it will be seen that the telephonic receiver m iscapable of responding at all times whenever the door of the box is open and, as willbe hereinafter described, serves as the other answer-back signal-receiving device.

At the signal-receiving station a buzzer 0 is provided, which serves as the other answer-back signal-transmitting device, which is a device well known in the art and consists,

essentially, of an electromagnet 0 and vibrating armature-lever 0, and said electromagnet 0 is included in the circuit-Wire 0 and the armature-lever 0 is also connected with said cir. cuit-wire 0 so that whenever the armatureis attracted a shunt will be closed around the electromagnet by which it is demagnetized sufiiciently to allow the armature to retract; and when it retracts it opens said shunt-circuit. A 1 vibratory action is thus produced whenever the circuit-wire 0 is connected with a battery. As herein shown, said circuit-wireo is connected at 0 and oto the local-battery circuit at and contains a normally open switch 0 and whenever said said switch 0 is closed the battery will be operated. The switch 0 is adapted to be closed by the bar of the switch a whenever said bar is pressed inward sulficiently, although said bar may be pressed inward sufficiently to close said switch 77/ without operating said switch 0 The circuit 0 of the buzzer is thus connected with one of the coils of the induction-coil 11. and whenever said buzzer is operated the telephonic receiver m' at the box will respond, and, as before stated, said telephonic receiver being connected in circuit whenever the box-door is open it will be seen that a signal may thus be sent from the receiving-station to the box at such time, and it will be seen that this signal may be employed for the purpose of notifying the oificer at the boxto immediately use his telephone, or it may be employed for any other purpose. Means are provided for antomatically operating said buzzer upon the reception of a signal at the receiving-station. To accomplish this result, circuit-wires 0 0 lead from the circuit 0 which will include a switch 0 adapted to be operated manually, and also will include a suitable circuit-operating device, which, as herein shown, consists of a toothed wheelo", secured to one of the shafts of the register, and a pair of contact-pens 0 0, operated by it, and whenever said register is operated a call indicative of the toothed wheel will be sent from the buzzer to the telephonic receiver m.

r A condenser 25 is included in the circuit of the telephonic equipment at the receivingstation and .also at each box in order that the box-number signals may betransmitted without causing the telephonic receivers to re spond, such provision, however, being well known in the art. i

. It will be seen that if the switch j is closed so as to include the electromagnet i of the pole-changing device in the main circuit all signals from the signal-box,whether patrol or special, will be automatically answered back on the polar bell in the signal-box. In addition tothis regular answer back it will be un: derstood that if the switch 0 is closed, so as to include the buzzer 0 in circuit upon the reception of any signal at the receiving-station, the circuitof said buzzer will be automatically operated by the train-controlled wheel 0 totransmit an answer-back signal of a different kind or character to the signal-box. Thus the traincontrolled operating device .at the receiving-station may be set to automatically transmita code-signal back to the box upon 7 the reception of any signal from the box to notify an ofiicer to use the telephone.

It is understood that the two answer-back signals are entirely different from each other IIO ation by the signal-transmitter at the box and to operate simultaneously, or substantially so, Without interference.

I claim 1. In an electric signaling apparatus, a plurality of signal-transmitting devices connected in circuit with a signal-receiving apparatus, two answer-back signal-transmitting devices of difierent kinds connected with said circuit at the signal-receiving station, two answer- 'back signal-receiving devices connected with said circuit at each transmitting-station independently responsive to said answer back transmitting devices, and means operated by the signal-receiving apparatus for operating both answer-back signal-transmitting devices, substantially as described.

2. In an electric signaling apparatus, a plurality of signal-transmitting devices connected in circuit with a signal-receiving apparatus, two automatic answer-back signal-transmitting devices of different kinds connected with said circuit at the signal-receiving station, two answer-back signal-receiving devices connected with said circuit at each transmitting-station, independently responsive to said automatic answerback signal-transmitting devices, and means operated by the signal-receiving apparatus for operating both auto m atic answer back signal transmitting devices, substantially as described.

3. In an electric signaling apparatus, a plurality of signal-transmitting devices connected in circuit with a signal-receiving apparatus, two answer-back signal-transmitting devices of different kinds connected with said circuit at the signal-receiving station, two answerback signal-receiving devices connected with said circuit at each transmitting-station independently responsive to said answer back transmitting devices, means operated by the signal-receiving apparatus for operating both answer-back signal-transmitting devices, and

a switch 0 for disconnectin one-of said answer-back signal-transmitting devices from the signal-receiving apparatus, substantlally as described.

4. In an electric signaling apparatus, a plu' in circuit witha signal-receiving apparatus, two answer-back signal-transmitting devices of different kinds connected with said circuit at the signal-receiving station, two answerback signal-receiving devices connected with said circuit at each transmitting-station independently responsive to said answerback transmitting devices, means operated by the signal-receiving apparatus for operating both answer-back signal-transmitting devices and two switches for separately disconnecting said answer-back signal-transmitting devices from the signal-receiving apparatus, substantially as described.

6. In an electric signaling apparatus, a plurality of signal-transmitting devices connected in circuit with a signal-receiving apparatus,

, two answer-back signal-transmitting devices of difierent kinds connected with said circuit at the signal-receiving station, two answerback signal-receiving devices connected with said circuit at each transmitting-station independently responsive to said answer-back transmitting devices, means operated by the signal-receiving apparatus for operating both answer-back signal-transmitting devices, a switch 0 for disconnecting one of said answerback signal-transmitting devices from the signal-receiving apparatus and means for manually operating said answer-back signal-transmitting device which is thus disconnected, substantially as described.

7 In an electric signaling apparatus, a plurality of signal-transmitting devices connected in circuit with a signal-receiving apparatus, telephonic equipment connected with said circuit at each transmitting-station and also at each receiving-station, two answer-back signal-transmitting devices of different kinds connected with the circuit at the signal-receiving station comprising a pole-changingdevice included in circuit at said receiving-station, and an electromagnetically operated buzzer connected in circuit with one of the coils of the induction-coil of the telephonic equipment at said receiving-station, two answer-back signal-receiving devices connected with the circuit at each signal-transmitting station independently responsive to said answer-back signal-transmitting devices, and means operated by the signal-receiving apparatus for operating both answer-back signaltransmitting devices, substantially as described.

8. In an electric signaling apparatus, a plurality of signal-transmitting devices connected in circuit with a signal-receiving apparatus, telephonic equipment connected with said circuit at each transmitting-station and also at each receiving-station, two answer-back signal-transmitting devices of difierent kinds connected with the circuit at the signal-re ceiving station comprising a pole-changing de vice included in said circuit at said receivingstation, and an electromagnetically-operated buzzer connected in circuit with one of the coils of the induction-coil of the telephonic equipment at said receiving-station, two ansvver-back signal-receiving devices connected With the circuit at each transmitting-station, independently responsive to said answer-back signal-transmitting devices, comprising a polarized bell and the receiver of said telephonic equipment at said signal-transmitting station,

IO and means operated by the signal-receiving 

